Merchandise display tray



Feb. 4, 1941. Q A, RQYER 42,23,547

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY TRAY Filed sept. 28, 193s sheets-sheet 1 27 Fig. |A

' 2'7 Y f5 2'7 2 y E 5% ifi Page l/ 2 i/ 1,/ #I5 27-1; I |3` 27 l/ '/l/:5g-26 if; \-|2 /Q 26% x 7&4 /l/ Iii( f/ im INvENToR |0 GEORGE A. ROYERAT To RN EY Feb. 4, 1941.

G. A. RoYER l2,230,547

MERCHANDISE nIsrLAY TRAY Filed Sepftl." 28, 193B 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENToR Gaone: A. ROYER ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 4, 1941 MERCHANDISEDISPLAY TRAY George A. Royer, Hanover, Pa., .assignor to Leschey MyersManufacturing C'o., Hanover, Pa., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationSeptember 28, 1938, Serial No. 232,077

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable trays or countersoi the type particularly adapted for receiving and displaying articlesof merchandise.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved display tray orcounter having partitions arranged and supported in a manner to dividethe tray into a plurality of compartments suitable for receiving variousarticles of merchandise.

Another object of the invention is to Iprovide an improved display trayor counter having adjustable partitions in which means .are provided forsupporting the partitions so that the partitions can readily be adjustedthereby enabling the same tray to be adapted for displaying articles ofmerchandise of various sizes and shapes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tray orcounter that includes a base member or counter-sham having side wallsformed with diametrically opposed grooves, which grooves aresubstantially diamond shape in cross section and have opposed angularportions adapted. to receive the side edges of the stems depending frompartition holding clips so as to frictionally grip the stems and therebyiirmly retain the partitions in position on the base member.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tray orcounter of the above type in which the parts are so constructed andarranged as to t snugly together and thereby prevent articles ofmerchandise from lodging in the joints therebetween.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, theinvention consists in the preferred construction and arrangement of theseveral parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan of anadjustable tray or counter embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1;and

Fig. 4 is .an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.2.

Referring to the drawings, the improved device comprises a base memberI0, preferably in the form of a rectangular body composed of side wallsI2 and a top I3. The side walls may be spaced apart by transverse wallsI4, disposed at suitable intervals throughout the length of the basemember II, one wall I4, being shown in Fig. 3.

The base member I0 is adapted to be placed upon a counter, table orother fixture or support (not shown), and be separated from other 5 basemembers, when desired, by partition walls I5, Fig. 1. Any number of basemembers I0 may be used, and these members may be of any dimensions.

The outer faces of the side walls I2 are formed l0 with a plurality ofvertical grooves II, the grooves of the two side walls of the basemember I0 being arranged in transverse alinement. The grooves II areseparated by ribs I6, and both the grooves and the ribs are coextensive15 in height, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

As shown in Fig. 4, each groove II has four angularly dis-posed walls,indicated .at I1, I8, I9 and 20. The walls of the groove are so arrangedwith respect to each other as to provide a struc- 20 ture which issomewhat diamond shaped in cross section, such structure having threeapexes 2|,

22 ,and 23 at the junction of the walls I1, I8, I9 and 20, respectively.The construction is such that the apex 2| at the junction of the walls25 I1, I8 is opposite the apex 23 at the junction of the walls I9, 20,and the distance between the apexes 2l, 23 is greater than the width ofvthe mouth of the groove, indicated at 24. Also the apex 22 at thejunction of the walls I8, I9 30 is located intermediate the apexes 2|,23, the apex 22 being disposed inwardly from the outer face of the sidewall I2 a distance considerably greater than the distance the apexes 2I,23 are disposed from the mouth 24 of groove II. The 85 apexes 2I, 23provide vertical surfaces adapted to receive the stems or tongues 26 ofclips 21.

The clips 21 each have side walls or jaws 28 adapted to receive the endportion of a partition member 29. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the 40 jaws28 of the clips rest on the top I3, and the stems or tongues 26'extenddownwardly into the grooves II.

As shown in Fig. 4, the stem or tongue 26 is bent transversely outwardlyor away from the apex 22 throughout substantially the ,whole length ofthe stem, and the side edges of said stem are adapted to engage theapexes 2l, 23 of the groove II so as toy frictionally retain the clip infixed position on the base member I0.

The clips 21 are preferably constructed from spring-like material. Thejaws 28 are so formed as to grip the side walls of the partitions 29with sufficient force so that when it is desired to shift the positionof a partition 29, the stems .or 55 tongues 26 will readily moveoutwardly of the grooves II without causing the partition to separate ordetach from the clips.

Preferably the partitions I5 and 29 are formed of sheets of glass ofsuitable thickness, and the height of the partitions I5 equalapproximately the combined height of the base ID and the partitions 29which are superposed thereon. Since the grooves I I are closely spacedapart, the partitions 29 can be arranged in any spaced relation desired.on the base I0.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has -been illustratedand described, it is to be understood that various changes'may be madein the details of construction Without departing from the spirit of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims, and such changes arecontemplated,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a counter, a base member having vertical grooves formed in theside walls thereof and extending inwardly from the outer surfaces of theside walls and separated by ribs, each groove comprising four angularlydisposed flat vertical faces arranged in diametrically disposed pairssubstantially in the form of a diamond so as to provide diametricallydisposed slots for receiving the side edges of the tongue of a clip tofrictionally retain the clip on the base member under tension.

2. In a counter, a base member having vertical grooves formed in theside Walls thereof, separated by ribs, each groove comprising fourangularly disposed flat vertical faces arranged substantially in theform of a diamond having only three apex portions, so as to provide aconstricted open mouth portion on one side of the groove at the outersurface of the side wall, the edges at the junction of each pair ofsurfaces of the groove being spaced apart a greater distance than thewidth of the mouth, so as to provide diametrically disposed V-shapedslots for receiving the side edges of the tongue of a clip to hold saidclip from turning on the base member.

3. In a. counter, a base member having vertical grooves formed in theside edges thereof, separated by ribs, each groove comprising fourangularly disposed iiat vertical faces arranged substantially in theform of a diamond so as to provide a constricted open mouth at the outeredge of the side wall of the base, the edges of the faces of said grooveextending inwardly from the mouth abutting the edges of the flat facesextending outwardly from the inner portion of the groove so as toprovide diametrically disposed V-shaped slots, said slots being spacedapart a greater distance than the width of the mouth so as to receivethe side edges of the tongue of a clip and thereby frictionally retainthe clip on the base member.

GEORGE A. ROYER.

